Dynamic transitioning of a simulating host of a portion or all of a network interactive environment

A relay server for dynamic transitioning from an original to a new simulating host of an interactive environment, the relay server for:

• connecting through a computer network between the original simulating host and at least two non-simulating hosts engaged in co-activity within the interactive environment;
• receiving user input control information from the at least two non-simulating host;
• sending the received user input control information to the original simulating host;
• receiving state messages having the state information having changes of status to the interactive environment from the original simulating host based on the user input control information from the at least two non-simulating host and user input control information of the original simulating host;
• updating the at least two non-simulating hosts with the state messages;
• detecting an unavailability of the original simulating host;
• selecting one of the at least two non-simulating host to become a new simulating host based on at least three selection criteria;
• transmitting the state information to the new simulating host;
• and
• instructing the new simulating host to begin operating as the new simulating host based on the transmitted state information.

A method for operation of a relay server for dynamic transitioning from an original to a new simulating host of an interactive environment, the method for the relay server comprising:

• connecting through a computer network to the original simulating host and at least two non-simulating hosts engaged in co-activity within the interactive environment;
• receiving user input control information from the at least two non-simulating host;
• sending the received user input control information to the original simulating host;
• receiving state messages having the state information having changes of status to the interactive environment from the original simulating host based on the user input control information from the at least two non-simulating host and user input control information of the original simulating host;
• updating the at least two non-simulating hosts with the state messages;
• detecting an unavailability of the original simulating host;
• selecting one of the at least two non-simulating host to become a new simulating host;
• transmitting the state information to the new simulating host;
• and
• instructing the new simulating host to begin operating as the new simulating host based on the transmitted state information.